Two of the three judges scored the light-heavyweight showdown at Mandalay Bay Events Center 30-27. The third scored it 29-28.

Liddell (21-5) and Silva (31-8-1) came into the highly anticipated bout having each lost their last two fights. Still, the deafening crowd seemed to delight in the three-round bout.

Midway through the second round, Silva landed a big right hand that sent Liddell to the mat. Liddell recovered and answered toward the end of the round with a flurry of punches that had Silva dazed against the fence.

In other fights, Eddie Sanchez beat UFC newcomer Soa Palelei by TKO at 3:24 of the third round. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight when Soa Palelei lay bloodied and battered after withstanding a barrage of punches.

Lyoto Machida (12-0) dominated Rameau Sokoudjou (4-2) and won by arm triangle at 4:20 of the second round.

Middleweight Dean (The Boogeyman) Lister won a unanimous decision over Jordan Radev in a fight that fizzled. And welterweight Roan Carneiro pounded out a TKO over Tony DeSouza at 3:33 of the second round.

Rich Clementi knocked out Melvin Guillard at 4:40 of the first round, flattening Guillard face down on the mat. The two had exchanged words inside the octagon before introductions, and after the knockout, Clementi stood over Guillard. After, Guillard stormed toward Clementi, and had to be restrained by security.

In the preliminary matches, James Irvin was declared the winner by disqualification over Luis "Bana" Cane at 1:51 of the first round. Cane landed a knee strike to the top of Irvin's head, apparently knocking him out. The doctor ruled Irvin unable to continue. UFC rules state that a fighter may not deliver a knee or leg strike to a downed opponent.

Manvel "The Anvil" Gamburyan returned from a loss in the finale of the fifth season of "The Ultimate Fighter " reality television show to defeat Nate Mohr by an ankle lock at 1:31 in the first round.

Dean "The Boogieman" Lister scored a unanimous decision over Bulgarian wrestler Jordan Radev in a slow paced bout that received many boos from the crowd. All three judges scored the fight 30-27.

Roan Carneiro defeated Tony DeSouza by TKO at 3:33 in the second round. Carneiro trapped DeSouza against the fence and landed multiple shots from the mount position before referee Steve Mazzagatti called a halt to the bout.